Bahrain on eve of mass protests
The Secretary General of Bahrain Democratic Assembly, Fazel Abbas, has reported on the decision of opposition groups for staging huge demonstrations on Tuesday, February 22.
In an interview with Al-Alam International Network, he said: "The political and opposition groups are not sure about the goals of Bahraini ruling system about the protesters that have gathered at "Lowlow" Square; and given that the possibility has risen about another attack of the Bahraini security forces and army against people, the opponents have decided to hold large-scale demonstrations from "Dian" Square toward "Lowlow" Square in a show of solidarity with the protesting youths that are stationed in the latter square.
He also pointed out that the goal behind the Bahraini ruling system's call for talks is to kill time, while adding that the current phase in Bahrain can be described as one of distrust because the Bahraini regime has not fulfilled its previous vows; the last example of which was a repeated attack on demonstrators on Friday that intensified the Bahraini people's distrust in the Bahraini ruling system.
He added that maybe in the past no one expected the people of Bahrain to stage anti-government demonstrations, and to stand firm against tanks and bullets. But, the recent demonstrations clearly showed that the indifference of Bahraini rulers has enraged the Bahraini people against the Bahraini political system.
He underscored that Bahrain's popular uprising will not end in the absence of important political changes in this country.
Furthermore, the columnist of a Bahraini highly-circulated paper, Mansour Al-Jomri, has said that the revolution in this country will finally succeed.
He said that the Bahraini youths are the most valuable asset of this country and their peaceful protests have been a source of honor for Bahrain. He added that, today, the Bahraini people and youths should look at the future horizon and should secure the materialization of their legitimate demands.
http://english.irib.ir/analysis/commentaries/item/71438-bahrain-on-eve-of-mass-protests
“Unless problems facing Saudi Arabia are solved, what happened and is still happening in some Arab countries, including Bahrain, could spread to Saudi Arabia, even worse,” Prince Talal told the London-based TV broadcaster in an interview aired late Feb. 17.
Credit-Default Swaps
Credit-default swaps on Saudi Arabia surged on Feb. 18 on concern political unrest in Bahrain will spread to the kingdom.
Swaps on Saudi Arabia, used as a measure of confidence in the country although it has no debt, jumped 10.5 basis points to 137, the highest since July 2009, according to CMA. Contracts on Bahrain rose for a fifth day, climbing 18 basis points to 302, the highest in 17 months.
Saudi Arabian shares yesterday retreated for a fifth day. The benchmark stock index, the Tadawul All Share Index, rose 0.30 percent at 11:10 a.m. today.
“There is tension right now and now you have the added situation in Bahrain that may ignite the spark,” said Christoph Wilcke, an expert on the country at New York-based Human Rights Watch, by phone from Munich. “This anger has the potential to spill over.”
http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-02-20/saudi-arabia-risks-shiite-unrest-in-wake-of-bahrain-turmoil.html
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